The one who will be King over all the earth!

The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the King.  Jesus is introduced firstly as the “son of David” and then the “son of Abraham”.  It would appear that Matthew is emphasizing the kingship of Jesus, since David is mentioned before Abraham.  The genealogy in Matthew chapter 1 presents Jesus being born through the kingly line of David through his stepfather, Joseph.  Kingship is again emphasized regarding David as all the others throughout the genealogy are stated as being “the father of…” yet only David is mentioned in conjunction with a title: “…and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah…” (Matthew 1:6)

At the announcement by the angel to Mary of the conception of the child, Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would reign over Israel on the throne of David forever:

And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:30-33)

This announcement was a reference to the promise the LORD God made to King David in the Old Testament regarding his “son”, a descendant of his who would reign on his throne over Israel forever.

Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

Jesus knew that he would not reign over the earth as King in the age in which he lived.  He knew he would die, be resurrected from the dead, ascend to heaven, and later return to the earth. At that time, he will come to rule as King over the earth.

Pontus Pilate, the Roman Governor, asked Jesus about his Kingship:

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my Kingdom is not from the world.’ Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a King?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a King. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice’. (John 18:33-37)

Jesus acknowledged that he is the King of the Jews. Although Pilate gave in to the desire of the Jewish leaders and had Jesus crucified, he did have this title written in three languages on the cross Jesus hung on:

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. (John 19:19-20)

Jesus will return to the earth and establish the Kingdom of God.  Jesus promised it (Matthew 116:27; Revelation 22:12); the angels of God declared it (Acts 1:11); and the Apostles taught it (Acts 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).  Jesus will transform the earth and the people and rule as King over the entire earth so that all will give God the Father glory.

But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD… (Number 14:21)

When Jesus returns as the lion of the tribe of Judah and establishes the Kingdom of God on the earth the words of the prayer he taught his disciples will be fulfilled:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9-10

Photo by Alexis Fotos (pexels.com).